My partner has turned yellow and I am scared

[bloodywhitecat]

Over the last couple of weeks his skin and eye whites have turned yellow, he also has dark urine which has not improved despite upping his fluid intake by at least an extra 2 litres a day, he is more tired than usual too. I don't want to scare myself witless and Google. He has called the GP and is having blood tests tonight.

Could be Hep B.

@mrpumblechook

Like I say, it sounds obvious and is obvious, but my own experience - where a hospital has done exactly that (and on a ward that know DS, his condition and history very well) - has made me always be sure to check exactly what tests are being run. They also don't always/automatically check the split bilirubin; better to ask before they collect and send the sample than have to have more taken, more waiting for results etc.

Was he yellow?

He had a liver transplant as a baby (yes he was very yellow then) so it's a matter of routine for lft's to be checked whenever he is poorly. Which is well known at this ward. They came in when they realised the cock up and apologised, and had to take another sample. Errors in forms, blood ordering etc are unusual but can and do happen, hence just mentioning it here. Not sure why you're so preoccupied by this advice and experience?

At least if he’s referred by his gp it will be to a department/ward rather than a&e

Nope. Everything non elective goes through A&E. Even with a GP letter.

Good luck at the appointment OP. Agree with PP to take a bag with some basic overnight bits in, just in case. I hope they get to the bottom of it and it's nothing serious.

she wasn’t asking for a diagnoses.

And yet she's been given several.

Definitely sounds liver related but could be anything from liver disease to gallbladder or even, I think, pancreas issues. Good that he's getting tested today - that will be an important first step.

I'd just monitor for excessive pain and/or fever and if those came along, then I'd hurry things along with a trip to A&E. But it sounds like the GP is taking it seriously by ordering blood tests asap.

@Alsohuman

At least if he’s referred by his gp it will be to a department/ward rather than a&e

Nope. Everything non elective goes through A&E. Even with a GP letter.

That must depend on where you live. It doesn't here.

Let us know what the GP says. If he’s physically going there for a blood test I’m certain the GP will send you to A and E if he feels it necessary. 💐

I'd take him to ED (also hospital consultant)

OP.

You have two hospital consultants saying A&E

Please don't mess around with the GP

I will ask him about A&E once he gets home but I am pretty sure he will decline

Well tell him that Two consulants have said A&E so he'd better do as he's told!

By order of Justa too!..

@blardiblabla I'd think because the ward made a mistake in not knowing your son / reading his notes properly and ordering the correct tests. He didn't appear to have a liver problem. Here, the patient is presenting as yellow and therefore it would be extremely difficult to neglect the obvious exploration of liver conditions and test accordingly.

Keeping you guys in my thoughts
Hope results come back quickly

I had this due to having gallstones blocking a duct.

No point in saying not to mess around with the gp.. The appointment is at 5 so they should be there now! Also, although there are people here saying they are hospital consultants, it is just an Internet forum and people can be whatever they want to be. If the gp feels the ops husband needs A&E I am sure he will send him when he sees him.

@CommunistLegoBloc fair enough, I suppose it could be read that way. I've just learnt the hard way (the example I've given not being the only time we've had similar, unfortunately) that sometimes, for one reason or another, the obvious doesn't happen. So I now check everything as the doctors are doing it as a matter of course. Several times burnt, and so on.

Hep A is unusual in this country & op has said he hasn't been overseas
what job does he do? (ie plumbing sewerage etc)
it could be gall bladder pancreas or liver issues - op dr will be contacting you - take things step by step don't let some of the people here frighten you)
if you have hep a you wouldn't be well enough to go to work (or get up! I say this with DEEP feeling ) & dr would sign him off & family would be having vaccinations (2 my family told me! I "just" had the disease) I am still here & haven't had any long term issues although it took a long time to get over it
none of you are doctors &even if you were you wouldn't diagnose from this site so please don't frighten her more than she is

none of you are doctors &even if you were you wouldn't diagnose from this site so please don't frighten her more than she is

Three of them are. They haven't diagnosed the OP's other half - they've advised her to get him to A+E.

He's back from the GP, bloods taken, ringing for results on Thursday. GP says fine to continue to work with adequate precautions. He won't go to A&E and I am not sure how I could bundle a 6'2 man into the car and get him there against his wishes.

Honestly I’d be taking him to A and E x

@bloodywhitecat did the GP say anything in the meantime to suggest what they were investigating?

Jaundice can make people feel really poorly. I would encourage him to go to hospital. What is the blood test going to show? that he has jaundice?surely it wont diagnose the cause. Hope he feels better soon.

Hmm even an urgent blood test will take a week for results

Nonsense - even my big stand annual health check results are back within 48 hours

Blood test, not big stand

He's back from the GP, bloods taken, ringing for results on Thursday. GP says fine to continue to work with adequate precautions. He won't go to A&E and I am not sure how I could bundle a 6'2 man into the car and get him there against his wishes.

That's good. The GP obviously didn't think he looked too bad.